The Odd Ballerz by Ruthie Robinson Page A

that he’d been wrong about her.
    “You, and why you feel it’s necessary to meet me at the beginning of every session to personally point out my tardiness,” she said, her eyes on his. She didn’t really have one, was straight up winging it, because she was a little bit pissed at his assumption, and that pity thing was back in his eyes, which brought out the defensive side of her. Always.
    “I’m listening,” he said.
    “You hope to make me crumble. Then you’ll have me where you want me,” she said, moving closer to him.
    “And where is this?” he asked, lowering his voice, and if she didn’t know better she would have taken the look in his eye as interest of the sexual variety.
    “Offering you cheaper insurance. That’s what you’re really after… what this is about, isn’t it?” she asked, pointing between their two bodies.
    He laughed, couldn’t help himself, surprised, and not for the first time. “What
are
you talking about, Jones?” he said.
    “You’re looking for discounts, deep insurance discounts. You wouldn’t be the first, you know. It’s okay. I can take a look at your policy. I don’t mind. I can see if your insurance agent is screwing you. I won’t tell him or her that you’re considering cheating on them.”
    “Jones,” he said, chuckling.
    “See, now didn’t that sound crazy? About as crazy as me falling over my feet so you’d have a reason to throw me out,” she said.
    He laughed.
    “Can I go now, Coach Z, sir? Now that we’ve settled that matter,” she asked.
    “Yes, you can,” he said, chuckling as she moved away from him.
    “I do have a job, and I’m trying to make this work. I’m not looking to quit,” she said.
    “Glad to hear it, Jones. You still have only one strike remaining, so be careful how you use it,” he said, smiling as he walked away.
    She stood by the door for a few minutes before she went inside to change.
    # # #
    Five minutes later, Z stood near the track, watching the boys and Jones start into the running of their laps. He’d eventually made it over to pick up a whistle, his mind running overtime with thoughts of Jones in that dress mostly, and the possibilities of what all of her looked like without it. One could dream. It was also that bit today about him looking for discounted insurance. Priceless, and that bit of personality, added to the look of her, was the reason his thoughts were in a tangle. Fun and entertaining, however unintentional, was Jones. He had been charmed and he would add sexy, humorous, and hurt again by his comments, to his assessment of her.
    “You must be Z,” a feminine voice said, interrupting his Jonesing-for-Jones musings.
    “I am,” he said, turning to face a woman his height, tall, pretty, blonde, lean, with the build of an athlete. You could see her figure outlined in the shorts and the form-fitting shirt she wore. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
    “I’m Aubrey White. We spoke on the telephone this afternoon. I called about playing for the Ballerz. You’re the head coach, Zachary Sloan?” she asked.
    “Assistant coach in charge of offense,” he said.
    “Noted,” she said, and smiled. “I decided to come out tonight after all. No use putting it off.”
    “That’s great,” he said.
    “The boys are out on the track, I see,” she said, turning to face them.
    “Yes. Two warm-up laps before we start camp,” he said.
    “Should I join them then? I came dressed to participate.”
    “Sure, if you want. It’s as I said on the phone, the first week of camp is mostly coaches observing. We are handing out assessments this evening actually, so you’ll miss that,” he said, smiling. “Is there a position you have in mind to play, one that you’ve played before?” he asked.
    “No. I haven’t played before but I think I would make a good receiver. My dad’s big into football, and I ran the idea by him. Being a receiver was his suggestion. I have the height advantage, not super speedy, not